Bridge-gate



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. R. KARSTENS.

(No Model.)

BRIDGE GATE.

Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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a mw o I /1 Z S N. PETERS. Pmw-Limcgmphef, wnsmngxm (LCv (No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 2, H. R. KARSTENS.

BRIDGE GATE'.

Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. (Nomen H. R. KARSTBNS- BRIDGE GATE. No. 389,086. Patented Sept. 4,' 1888.

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l NHL arent @reina HERMAN R. KARSTENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,086, dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed April 23, 1888.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN R. Kiins'rnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi` cago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovementsin Bridge-Gates,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make the traffic and foot gates which close theapproaches to swinging bridges so that they will automatically close as the bridges open, and automatically openas the bridges close, and my invention consists in the figures and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved gate looking from the river; Fig. 2, a diagram of some of the operative parts by which the opening or closing of the bridge causes the gates to open or close; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view of a part of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a View, partly in section, taken through the line .fr a: of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5, a side elevation of one of the foot-gates when closing the foot-walk; Fig. 6, an enlarged plan of one of the operative parts by which the foot-gate is opened or closed; Fig. 7, a side view of a part of Fig. 6, cut off by the line y y, indicated by the arrow; Fig. 8, a plan view of a section of Fig. l taken through the line .e z; Fig. 9, a view taken in the line o yc of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. l0, aplan view ofthe gate taken through the line w w of Fig. l; Fig. l1, a vertical section of one of the side posts of the traffic-gates; and Fig. l2, a vertical section of one of the traffic-gate posts and its piston, taken through the line it of Fig. S, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, A represents the abutment of the bride; B, the trahie-gate posts; C, the traffic-gate; D, the foot-gates; E, the end of the bridge shown as ready for traffic; F, a traveling pulley-carrying block; G, pivoted dogs on the underside of the bridge by which the traveling block with its pulleys is moved in one direction or the `other as the bridge is opened or closed, H, cables which operate the traffic-gates; I, cables which operate the footgates; (l, a hollow piston in the trafficgate posts; K, a shaft extending through the gate from one side to the other, carrying a pinion on each end; L, guides on the inner sides of .fic-way to the other.

Serial No. QTLGBG. (No model.)

the traflicgate posts, in which the edges of the gates and the shaft K with its pinions move up and down; M, a sliding rod for operating the cables opening and closing the foot-gate, and N a piece on which one end of such sliding rod is pivoted.

In making my improved traffic gate for swinging bridges I make it of suitable material and preferably as light in, its construction as consistent with the necessary strength, and of a length to extend from one side of the trat'- To give it the necessary strength, I prefer to provide it with truss-rods, as shown in Figs. 1 and l0. At each side of the trafc-way on the abutment to the bridge I erect two hollow posts,which I have termed the traffic-gate posts. These posts are also provided on their inner sides-by which I mean the sides which face thetrafcway-with guiding-pieces and designated in the drawings by the letter L. As shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, these guides turn toward each other at right angles to their inner edges. They are intended to be of asize and width apart to permit the edges of the traffic gate, which are preferably provided with a T-shaped head, as shown in Fig. 8, to be inserted in them, and to move up and down therein with steadiness though with facility. One edge of these guiding1ianges L is intended to be provided with arack, as shown in Fig. 9, and a shaft, K, is intended to pass from one side of the gate to the other, as shown in Fig. 8. This shaft rests in bearings in the gatefraine and carries a pinion at each end to engage with the teeth of the rack in the gate-guides. The engagement of the teeth of these pinions with the teeth of the racks iu the gate-guides at each side of the traffic-way insures a regular and uniform movement of both sides of the gate up and down and prevents any binding or friction in the movement of the gate. As to the precise arrangement of these gate-guides and racks and pinions, I do not wish to conline myself too strictly to details, as it is obvious that various changes could be made and yet secure the same regular and uniform movement ofthe gate up and down in its guides.

To prevent the gate from descending too rapidly when released,as hereinafter described, I make the gatewposts hollow, and preferably with around interior. Iarrauge pistonsJwith- ICO in the gate-posts which are adapted to move np and down contrary to the movement of the gate; These pistons should move with proper freedom from friction, and yet they should sufficiently tit the interior of the gate-posts as to practically, or at least largely, prevent the air that may be in the gate-posts above or below them from escaping past them. I provide the pistons with holesone at each endand io arrange a valve to close the upper hole in the piston, openable upward from a pressure below. These pistons are connected by a rope or other proper connection from their top ends, which may be provided with a bail, as shown in Figs. Il and l2, to the gate, so that as the gate goes down they will be drawn up, and as the gate goes up they will be permitted to slide down. Owing to the arrangement of the valves in these pistons, so that they are only 2o openableupward fromapressure below,itis obvious that as the gate descends and the pistons are drawn upward they will tend to compress the air in the upper portions of the gate-posts, which is allowed to escape slowly through holes near the top of the gate-posts, through which the ropes pass, and which will thus operate as a brake to prevent the too rapid descent of the gate; but as the gates rise and the pistons descend, the air rushing into the pistons from 3o below will open the valves and pass into the upper portion of the gate-posts. Thus these pistons will be permitted to descend rapidly and the gates to rise with corresponding rapidity.

.t In order to provide for the automatic raising and lowering of the trahie-gates as the bridge is swung open or closed, I arrange within the ends of the abutments of the bridge at each side of the river space for a track or Way, as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 3, and

4. oF. the drawings. This track or way consists of two rails-one at the bot-toin of the space and one at the top-the upper rail being immediately above the lower and the two rails facing each other. I then make a traveling pulley-carrying block, which I have designated by the letter F, which is provided with wheels on its under and on its upper sides to engage, respectively, with the upper and the 5o lower tracks. These wheels may be attached to the block in any desired way, as their ofce merely is t-o steady the block and enable it to be moved with facility in one direction or the other. This traveling block is furnished with 5 5 pulleys, which I have designated by the letter P, and which are particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

In the space made in the abutments of the bridge,in which the track and traveling block 6o above described are arranged, I also preferably provide means, as a staple, S, to enable the ends of the ropes or cables to be attached. These ropesmay be attached directly to the traveling block when, as in the case of very wide bridges, the block travels sutdciently to one side or the other to raise the gate when the rope is thus attached. I attach one end ot each of two cables to this staple or other means for effecting a fastening and carry the other ends of the cables through the traveling block and in contact with the pulleys I), arranged and carried therein. These cables are then passed around two stationary pulleys, R, pivoted inbearings in the lower part of the space made in the abutment of the bridge, and are then carried one to the oneside andthe other to the other sideof the abntinent. These ropes are then passed around stationary pulleys j at the ,sides of the abntment,and are then carried back away 'from the face of the abutment of the bridge until they passaronnd pulleys O at or within t-he bottoms of the trafiicegate posts. They are then carried u p within the hollow posts and attached to the bottoms of the pistons J. As the traveling pulley-carrying block is carried toward the one side or the other of the bridge-abutment from its central position, it is obvious that it will carry the cables with it, and thereby shorten the portion which extends up into the traffic-gate posts,

and thus draw the pistons located therein toward the bottom. As these pistons descend, the ropes extending from their upper ends to the gates will draw the gates upward, so that when the traveling block is at one side or the other of the bridgeabutment thegates will always be raised, so that teams may pass under them as traffic may require, but it is obvious that as the weight of the gateis thus suspended the tendency of the traveling block will always be to run back to the center ot the abutments, and that it will always come to this position unless positively held to the one side or to the other. Vhen, therefore, any positive force holding it to the one side or to the other of the abutment is removed, the weight of the gate will cause it to descend and the traveling blocks to go to the center of the abutments.

To move the traveling block from its normal position in the center of the abutments to the one side or to the other, so as to raise the gates, I provide the under side of the bridge with means for engaging the traveling block and forcing it to the one side or to the other. These means, as I have shown them in the drawings, consist of pivoted dogs G,which are held froin moving in one direction by the pin or post p, attached to the under side of the bridge, but are enabled to inove in the other direction against the pressure of the spring s until they have reached another pin or post, q, arranged on the under side of the bridge to arrest their further movement in that direc'- tion. The heads of these dogs extend ont somewhat beyond the ends of the bridge, so that they may pass into the space arranged in the abutments of the.bridge and engage with the traveling blocks F, which are preferably provided with beveled edges to enable the heads of the dogs to become disengaged when the bridge is entirely open for the passage ot' vessels. The traveling blocks could, how- IOO IIO

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ever, extend out far enough, so that it would not be necessary for the heads of the dogs to extend into the spaces of the abutments of the bridge. Both of these pivoted dogs are held by posts or pins on their inner sides,and are only openable against the springs s outwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As the bridge is being closed after the passage of a vessel,the dog on the side of the'bridge which drst moves up to the abutment of the bridge comes into contact with the traveling block, which is moved to its position in the center of the abutment as the gate descends, and carries it along with it away from the center of the abutment. As this block is moved away from the center toward the one side or the other,it carries the cables with it, as above explained, and lift-s the gate. 'When the bridge has reached its normal position and is closed so that trahie may be resumed, the traveling block will be held at one side ofthe abutment, as shown in Fig. 2. It now it should be desired to open the bridge for the passage of another` vessel, the dog G would move easily past t-he traveling block as the bridge began to open, which will release the traveling block and enable it to run back toits position in the center and the traffic-gate at the saule time to descend. As the other dog then engaged the traveling bloclr,the dog would be pushed back, as the spring would permit it to yield,so that it would pass the traveling block without moving it away from its position in the center. In this way the traveling blocl; would be automatically allowed to return to the center of the abutments and the traffic-gates to close as the bridge was opened for the passage of a vessel, and automaticallyv forced away from the center of the abutments and the gates raised as the bridge swunginto its normal po sition for the resumption of trattic; but itis also desirable that the foot-walks at the sides of the traffic-way should be also automatically closed as the bridge is opened. These foot gates may be constructed in any way desirable, though 1 have shown them in the drawings as consisting of two slats or bars arranged with connecting-links, like parallel-rulers. The upper one of these rulers is pivoted near its inner end to the traffic-gate post next to which it is located. The end extends somewhat be youd the pivot in the post, as shown in Fig. 5, and is provided wilh a cable or rope, I, which passes over a pulley, o, and around another pulley, o', and passes through the end of the sliding rod M, whence it passes to a fixed point, to which it is attached. This rod M passes through two iixed eyes, on, and is provided with a coiled spring, as shown in Fig. 6, which is compressed whenever the foot gate is down. The other end of the rod M is pivotally attached to a piece, N, which may be either a flexible or a jointed piece,as desired. XVhen released from pressure, the coiled spring` on the rod M forces the rod back against the piece N and bends it, as shown by dotted lines on the left hand of Fic. In thus forcing the rod back the eableI is released from pressure, as shown in Fig. 6, and the weight of the foot-gate causes it to drop down in place. As the bridge turns to the one side or to the other, however, itbears against the pieceNand forces it back out of its crooked position against the pressure of the spring, and forces the cable back, as shown in Fig. ll, which of course 7 shortens or draws in the outer end of the cable, and so draws the footgate up into iis position. (Shown in Fig. l.) Whenever the bridge is closed for traffic, the rod N is held up in its normal position, so that the footgate is kept elevated; but the moment the bridge swings open for the passage of a vessel the spring on the rod M forces the rod back against the piece N, so as to create a slack in the cable I and permit the gate to fall, as above explained. The piece N is provided with slots, as shown in Fig. 7, to permit it to be bent back, as shown in Fig. 2. In this way the footgate is also automatically opened and closed by the opening and closing of the bridge, which preferably has the corners somewhat cut away, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the foot-gate to begin to close the instant the bridge begins to move.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bridge-gate, the combination of a swinging bridge provided at each end with two pivoted dogs laterally movable in opposite directions to each other only, an abutment containing a track or way in its face, a pulley-carrying block traveling on such track or way and movable by the dogs to the one side of the abutment or the other, and a verticall y-sliding trahie-gate connected by ropes or cables to the pulley-carrying block, whereby the gate is raised the pulley-carrying block is moved by the dogs from its central position, substantiall y as described.

2. In a bridge-gate, the combination of vert tical hollow traido-gate pests, hollow pistons arranged in such gate-posts and movable up and down therein and provided with airvalves openable in one direction only, a vertically-sliding tra'llicgate arranged in slides ou I the faces ot' such posts, ropes or cables running from the gates to the upper ends of the pistons, ropes or cables running from the lower ends of the pistons around pulleys and through a traveling pulley-carrying block to t a stationary point ol' connection, and a pnl` leyearrying block moving in either direction from a central position and shortening the cables as it moves, and thereby raising the gate, substantially as described. 1

3. In a bridge-gate, the combination of vertical hollow traliicgate posts having guides or ways on their inner or opposed `faces, a rack arranged in each of the guides, a verticallysliding trahie-gate arranged in the guides and I provided with a horizontal rod or shaft eX- tending from one side ofthe gate to the other,

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Io tionary point of connection, a sliding rod Inovssaoae ing back and forth in ways, and means for holding the rod back against the weight of the gate and allowing the gate to fall by its own weight when such means are released, substantiall y as described.

HERMAN R. KARSTENS.

Witnesses:

GEoRGE S. PAYsoN, M. F. FAIRBANKS. 

